Chrysalis

Rassan'tep looked out over the assembled masses of insect monsters and tasted the air with his tongue. Across the bond he could feel the minds of his attendants stir with trepidation. They had not expected to see so many. In the lead of the insect formation an enormous specimen, larger than the kaarmodo even, stood to attention, it's gleaming carapace reflecting the light of the embers that fluttered through the air in this stratum. Altogether the sight was an impressive

[Lend me your eyes,] he commanded, [let us examine them together.]

The setsulah, led by Ammon'sil, pooled their thoughts, allowed their mana to flow together before they collectively wove their spell and brought it back, laying it over their eyes. With their senses overlaid, the kaarmodo accepted the stimuli they provided and fed his own back into the collective. Immediately each of them shifted in place as the ant army in front of them blazed with a richness of energy that they had not expected to see. More than that, there ebbs and flows that should not be. The big one at the front, there was something… odd. Rassan'tep concentrated hard and even then he could just barely grasp the edges of that strange eddy, a curious ripple in the fabric.

[Release.]

The spell was allowed to unravel and the seven of them contemplated what they had seen.

[Speak your thoughts,] he invited his bond servants. [Do not stand on ceremony.]

Ammon'sil spoke first, as was his right.

[There are more than we expected to see, and they are more highly evolved than anticipated. This force is not to be underestimated.]

[The tier six has a core bursting with energy. Should it evolve again, it may even develop to the mythic stage,] Rapsep, wife of Ammon spoke next.

Chahan'sep spoke next, the surprise evident in the movement of his thoughts. [There is more to this colony than

believe that they may still think us to be a vastly superior force. It may be wise to consider retreat,] the youngest, Yuwan'sil said, which caused the others to turn

asked that you

Old

did not foresee. There is also a strong possibility that the others will not arrive at this assessment, or ignore it even if that have.

considered

moved. Not a muscle, or a twitch. The insects, as was their way, stood in perfect ranks, motionless, as if carved from stone. Likewise, the kaarmodo, with the patience born of their long lived nature and their reptilian ancestry did not stir, waiting and watching in perfect

given a task by the Mahaan, so we shall carry it out,] he declared at last. [I will speak with the others and see what

quickly latched onto the mana weave. Thankfully communicating via thought was

ordered to destroy and it does not appear as though they will let us pass through easily. What are your

adults, the hierarchy wasn't clear. As a result, dozens of minds leapt forward at once, creating a clamour

shall be

to compete

obliterate them

level of caution may be

piled in on as the others